Hydrangea plant named &#39;LC NO5&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘LC NO5’, characterized by its medium in size and broadly upright plant habit; moderately freely branching habit with strong lateral branches; freely flowering habit with plants remaining in flower for a long period time; dense and hardy inflorescences with light yellow green to white-colored sterile flowers that age attractively to red in color with development; and good garden performance.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Hydrangea Plants

Applicant: Alex Frederick Schoemaker

Provisional application serial number: 62/765,663

Filed: Sep. 7, 2018

Title: Hydrangea Plant Named ‘LC NO2’

Applicant: Alex Frederick Schoemaker

Filed: Concurrently with the instant application

Title: Hydrangea Plant Named ‘LC NO7’.

Applicant: Alex Frederick Schoemaker

Filed: Concurrently with the instant application

Botanical designation: Hydrangea paniculata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘LC NO5’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea paniculata, commerciallyreferred to as a Hardy or Panicled Hydrangea and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘LC NO5’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Boskoop, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new Hydrangea plants with uniformplant habit and attractive inflorescences.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from an open-pollination in July,2013 in Boskoop, The Netherlands, of Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,874, as the female, or seed, parentwith an unknown selection of Hydrangea paniculata as the male, orpollen, parent. The new Hydrangea plant was discovered and selected bythe Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of thestated open-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment inBoskoop, The Netherlands during the summer of 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by vegetative tipcuttings in a controlled environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands sincethe summer of 2016 has shown that the unique features of this newHydrangea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘LC NO5’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘LC NO5’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Medium in size and broadly upright plant habit.    -   2. Moderately freely branching habit with strong lateral        branches.    -   3. Freely flowering habit with plants remaining in flower for a        long period time.    -   4. Dense and hardy inflorescences with light yellow green to        white-colored sterile flowers that age attractively to red in        color with development.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, ‘Limelight’. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily fromplants of ‘Limelight’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more compact than plants of        ‘Limelight’.    -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea and ‘Limelight’ differ in sterile        flower color as sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea        are light yellow green to white in color whereas sterile flowers        of plants of ‘Limelight’ are light green in color.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the Hydrangeapaniculata ‘LC NO2’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filedconcurrently. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hydrangeadiffer primarily from plants of ‘LC NO2’ in plant habit as plants of thenew Hydrangea are shorter and narrower than plants of ‘LC NO2’.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the Hydrangeapaniculata ‘LC NO7’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filedconcurrently. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hydrangeadiffer primarily from plants of ‘LC NO7’ in plant habit as plants of thenew Hydrangea are shorter and narrower than plants of ‘LC NO7’. Inaddition, plants of the new Hydrangea are not as freely branching asplants of ‘LC NO7’.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can also be compared to plants of theHydrangea paniculata ‘Silver Dollar’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of‘Silver Dollar’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more compact than plants of        ‘Silver Dollar’.    -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea and ‘Silver Dollar’ differ in        sterile flower color as sterile flowers of plants of the new        Hydrangea light yellow green to white in color whereas sterile        flowers of plants of ‘Silver Dollar’ are white in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance ofthe new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description which accurately describe the colors of the newHydrangea plant. The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) is aside perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘LC NO5’. Thephotograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of atypical inflorescence of ‘LC NO5’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the followingdescription were grown during the late summer in 15-cm containers in anoutdoor nursery in Boskoop, The Netherlands and under cultural practicestypical of commercial Hydrangea production. During the production of theplants, day temperatures ranged from about 16° C. to 25° C. and nighttemperatures ranged from about averaged 5° C. to 16° C. Plants of thenew Hydrangea were pinched one time and were two years old when thephotographs and description were taken. As a Hardy or PanicledHydrangea, plants of the new Hydrangea are typically not treated withaluminum sulfate to “blue” the inflorescences. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea paniculata ‘LC NO5’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,874.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Hydrangea            paniculata, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—By vegetative tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 20 days at            temperatures about 16° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 50 days            at temperatures about 16° C. to 30° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            light brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent            on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Medium-sized, broadly upright plant            habit; overall plant shape, obovate; strong and sturdy            stems; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and            moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height.—About 50 cm to 60 cm.        -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 30 to 40 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Branching habit.—About three to seven lateral branches            develop per plant; pinching will enhance lateral branch            development.        -   Length.—About 30 cm to 50 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 6 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 2.5 cm to 10 cm.        -   Texture.—When developing, sparsely pubescent; fully            developed, woody.        -   Aspect.—Upright to about 30° from vertical.        -   Strength.—Strong, sturdy; flexible.        -   Color.—When developing: Close to 145C. Developed: Close to            59B becoming closer to 166A with development; when woody,            close to 199D.        -   Lenticels.—Density: Medium density to dense. Size: About 1.5            mm by 0.75 mm. Color, developing and developed stems: Close            to 199D.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 10 cm.        -   Width.—About 5.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic to ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate to obtuse.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Sparsely pubescent; venation,            densely pubescent; not rugose.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Sparsely pubescent; venation,            densely pubescent; rugose.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            144B. Fully developed leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A;            venation, close to 146B. Fully developed leaves, lower            surface: Close to 146B; venation, close to 147D.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent.            Color, upper surface: Close to 59B. Color, lower surface:            Close to 59C; proximally, close to 143C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Showy sterile flowers and small            inconspicuous fertile flowers arranged on terminal panicles;            panicles broadly ovate in shape; sterile flowers face            upright to outwardly and slightly drooping depending on            their position in the inflorescence; fertile flowers face            mostly upright.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering begins in the midsummer            and is continuous until late summer in Northern Europe.        -   Flower longevity.—Sterile flowers last about two months on            the plant, sterile flowers persistent; fertile flowers last            about five to seven days on the plant, fertile flowers not            persistent.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 400 to            600 sterile flowers and about 20 to 40 fertile flowers per            panicle.        -   Panicle height.—About 20 cm to 25 cm.        -   Panicle diameter.—About 15 cm to 20 cm.        -   Sterile flower buds.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About            3 mm. Shape: Orbicular. Color: Close to 144C; towards the            apex, close to 65C.        -   Fertile flower buds.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About            4 mm. Shape: Obovate. Color: Close to 145C.        -   Sterile flower diameter.—About 5 cm.        -   Sterile flower depth (height).—About 5 cm.        -   Fertile flower diameter.—About 4 mm by 8 mm.        -   Fertile flower depth (height).—About 3 mm.        -   Petals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a            single whorl. Length: About 3 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape:            Broadly lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin:            Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 150D. Fully opened, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to NN155A; color does not change with            development.        -   Petals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a            single whorl. Length: About 2 mm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape:            Deltoid. Apex: Acute to subacute. Base: Obtuse. Margin:            Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: When opening and            fully opened, upper surface: Close to 157C; color does not            change with development. When opening and fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 157C; color does not change with            development.        -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Typically            four, rarely five, in a single whorl. Length: About 2.5 cm.            Width: About 2.5 cm. Shape: Elliptic to suborbicular. Apex:            Obtuse to occasionally emarginate. Base: Obtuse. Margin:            Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 150D. Fully opened, upper surface:            Close to NN155A; color becoming closer to 144C and towards            the margins, close to 53B with subsequent development. Fully            opened, lower surface: Close to NN155B; color becoming            closer to 144C and 53C with subsequent development.        -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a            single whorl. Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape:            Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture            and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            matte. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface:            Close to NN155A; color does not change with development.            When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to            NN155A; color does not change with development.        -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 1.7 cm to 2.3 cm.            Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect:            About 30° from branch axis. Texture and luster: Sparsely            pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 155A.        -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 3 mm to 5 mm.            Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect:            Mostly erect. Texture and luster: Sparsely pubescent; matte.            Color: Close to NN155A.        -   Reproductive organs, sterile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per            flower: About eight or nine. Filament length: About 2 mm to            4 mm. Filament color: Close to 155A. Anther length: About            1 mm. Anther shape: Orbicular or parted. Anther color: Close            to 155C. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to            156A. Pistils: To date, pistil development on sterile            flowers of the new Hydrangea has not been observed.        -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per            flower: About eight or nine. Filament length: About 2 mm to            5 mm. Filament color: Close to NN155A. Anther length: About            1 mm. Anther shape: Orbicular or parted. Anther color: Close            to 159D. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to            156A. Pistils: Pistil quantity per flower: Typically three.            Pistil length: About 3 mm. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma            color: Close to NN155C. Style length: About 2.5 mm. Style            color: Close to 154C. Ovary color: Close to 154C.        -   Seeds.—To date, seed production has not been observed on            plants of the new Hydrangea.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, under commercial production    conditions, plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed to be    resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hydrangea plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been observed    have good garden performance and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness    Zones 5 through 9.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘LC NO5’ asillustrated and described.